Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-09-30


their arms and shook them. He hurt them,
poor man, without knowing it.
You saw me-you two, they pretend
| You heSr them tell me that you accuse me,
| that you saw me. Speak Protest! Rise
| and tell that man who accuses me that he
| has lied about it, that it is not, could not,
| be true; that you could not have seen Roger
L1roque commit crime of which he is in
capable. "
They could not speak He still grasped
their arms and begged them TO deny This
| foul charge. At last Henriette rose from
hoy chair, and with difficulty stood before
him.
"Henriette Suzanne, what ails you2 Are
you sick| What have they done to you that
you cannot speakr
Roger said Hcnrette, painfully IN. Dc
Ligncrolles is wrong TO tell you that we were
witnesses to a murder. For three days they
have pursued U.s. Suzanne and me, to force
lis to avow what we h1yo not seem have
but to repeat to YOU, in my own name and
that OF my child, what 'co hay0 already said
many times. We know nothing Of how that
murder was committed, and We 10 not know
why they dare accuse YOU
"Ah, that relieves Inc. You have spoken
II IS impossible that you could have seen me,
was frightened Of | know not what" Then
turning to the judge, he cried
why did You bring my wife and child
here, telling mo that they were witnesses?
y Oh go beyond your power as Judge You
have just told me a falsehood, which my wife
has proved to be one. The law, perhaps.
jnStite, such deTiations from truth but do
not"
The magistrate answered gently, for he
piiiod that poor mother and child:
1T is proven that thcy saw YOU
Proved" said Laroque, Gained ny 4 su
pre!ne effort. "Henriette, you hear. | can
say nothing What do you say
That cannot be, since l understand moth.
Ing of what they ask OF me-
Victoria was recalled, and the poor servant
repeated word for word what she had said
before. emitting nothing. Roger listened
breathlaSS, his nerves strung to their highest
tension and trying to comprehend. Then he
rose with hnggarl eyes and stretched out his
hand, saying:
Take care of me, ! feel an goi,i, mad"
After long silence he seemed TO under
stand, little by little. Nov ne knew Hen
riette and Suzanne hal seen, but whatt Thcy
had refused to speak. Why He must know.
Roger threw himself on his knee, before his
wife, tool; her hands and caressed them, and
then, rs though he would havo spoken to
child, he said:
Tell the truth. Is it true that you saw
me- You denied it, did you mott Up
to the last minute You say that you did
did not see that murder committed, and Su-
2annc said the same. They questioned you
in vail. But now, my dear wife, and you,
my little daughter, must tell all Do not be
afraid, since am not guilty, to tell all you
know They accuse me, but perhaps your
testimony will prove my innocence
He held his wifeS and child'S hands all
gathered in his AMI he kissed them all to-
gether. Mother and child, with pale faces,
kept silence.
The magistrate interviewed.
Il brought you into the presence of your
husband" said he, "because l hope still that
you will listen to his prayers and understand
that you had better tell all on saw, no mat
ter what it was, for his sake, than to keep this
strange silence. Your husband will tell you
palmer than l can that it is in his interest
that you speak. To all of us it is evident that
you and your child saw this murder. The
gravest charge hangs over your husbands
head. Therefore, If you refuse TO speak it is
because your husband is guilty in your eyes ="
Then, turning toward the unhappy Roger,
he continued:
Explain well to your wife and YOUR
daughter, and may you be happier than we
vera
"HcHrette, you hear what the judge says.
What he says is true, dear. Your silence ap-
pears very strange to them, and naturally
they believe that Victoria tells the truth.
Now know that you could not have seen me
at the cottage and have nothing to fear; So
my darling. since | am innocent, and YOU
could not have seen me, if you did see any.
body you should tell it, even in my interest.
So, Henriette, my vile, tell us what you
know"
Still no sound, NJ movement from Hen
riette, who seemed ike one magnetized
Did you hear me, Henriettel"
She made an affirmative sign
why then persist in this silence. which is
my condemnation"
Il havo nothing to say
'Henriettei Victoria's testimony is precise
And your trouble, your pallor and your
strange manner betray you. And | remem-
Der now that Suzanne was ill the next dav
and had commissions. o, my wife! if have
ever deserved any kindness at your hands
have pity on me now and tell u, what YOU
saw"
Not having seen anything | can certainly
tell you nothing"
80, Henriette, you accuse the! am your
husband, and in spite Of my innocence, you
condemn me-
What superhuman force kept this poor
wife alive during these horrible moments
mono can tell. To speak was to prove him
guilty; to keep silent to accuse him. Again
Roger begged her by every endearing term to
tell him what She saw; he pleaded with tears
standing in his eyes, and recalling their eight
years Of life together, and asking her in what
had he Offended her that she should thus in
jure him. lierlips remain-d closed. but an,.
eyes 'aid: Lies, lies"
lie rose to his feet discouraged AMI 7sl,.el
back and forth moment, and thea stopping.
before her said:
"Lenriette, you are condernnln5 me You
lo7e me no longer, perhaps never did, but re-
member, Whatever comes, that | love YOU.
and shall love you aS long as | live. That
shall be your punishment and my revenge.
have done all could, NJ. De Lignerolles'
"a ilrA mi, OIL IL,